U.S. patent application number 13/116964 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-29 for methods and apparatus for communicating advertising control information.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Ranjith S. Jayaram, Vincent D. Park, Arthur Stephens, Georgios Tsirtsis, Zhibin Wu.
Application Number | 20120303459 13/116964 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46208833 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120303459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stephens; Arthur ; et
al. |
November 29, 2012 |
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING ADVERTISING CONTROL
INFORMATION
Abstract
Various embodiments are directed to the transmission, e.g.,
broadcast, of identification information and corresponding control
information in discovery signals by a wireless communications
device as part of a discovery process. In some embodiments, the
identifier identifies one of: an advertisement, a user, or a
module. In one embodiment the identifier identifies an
advertisement, and the corresponding control information
communicates a bid factor used in determining the value of a bid
for an ad display opportunity. In another embodiment, the
identifier identifies a dynamically modifiable advertisement, and
the corresponding control information communicates information that
is used to set and/or modify the dynamically modifiable portion of
the advertisement. In still another embodiment, the identifier
identifiers a user and the control information communicates status
information. In yet another embodiment, the identifier identifies a
module, e.g., a software application, and the control information
communicates a command for the module to perform a particular
operation.
Inventors: |
Stephens; Arthur; (Hazlet,
GB) ; Jayaram; Ranjith S.; (Short Hills, NJ) ;
Tsirtsis; Georgios; (London, GB) ; Park; Vincent
D.; (Budd Lake, NJ) ; Wu; Zhibin; (Bedminster,
NJ) |
Assignee: |
QUALCOMM Incorporated
San Diego
CA
|
Family ID: |
46208833 |
Appl. No.: |
13/116964 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.64 ;
705/14.71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0261 20130101;
G06Q 30/0267 20130101; G06Q 30/0271 20130101; G06Q 30/0275
20130101; H04W 8/005 20130101; G06Q 30/0207 20130101; H04W 4/21
20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.64 ;
705/14.71 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a wireless communications device, the
method comprising: transmitting discovery information including an
identifier; and transmitting control information corresponding to
said identifier.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifier relates to one
of: an advertisement, an advertiser or a store.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said control information includes
information used by a receiving device to determine an amount bid
for display of the advertisement corresponding to said control
information.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said control information includes
information used to vary an amount of a bid depending on various
factors known to the device determining the ad display bid amount
at the time the bid is computed.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said factors includes at least
one of: geographic location of the device, proximity to a store
associated with the advertisement to which the control information
corresponds, information about participation in a loyalty program
associated with the advertisement.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein said control information includes
information used to control the content of a presented
advertisement.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said control information includes
information which alters the promotional information presented as
part of the advertisement.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said control information includes
information which is used to select between a plurality of
different promotions associated with an advertisement.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said advertisement corresponds to
a chain store; and wherein said control information includes
control bits which provide information used to control the content
of a store customizable field of a chain store advertisement.
10. A wireless communications device comprising: means for
transmitting discovery information including an identifier; and
means for transmitting control information corresponding to said
identifier.
11. The wireless communications device of claim 10, wherein said
identifier relates to one of: an advertisement, an advertiser or a
store.
12. The wireless communications device of claim 11, wherein said
control information includes information used by a receiving device
to determine an amount bid for display of the advertisement
corresponding to said control information.
13. The wireless communications device of claim 12, wherein said
control information includes information used to vary an amount of
a bid depending on various factors known to the device determining
the ad display bid amount at the time the bid is computed.
14. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein said
factors includes at least one of: geographic location of the
device, proximity to a store associated with the advertisement to
which the control information corresponds, information about
participation in a loyalty program associated with the
advertisement.
15. A computer program product for use in a wireless communications
device, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitory
computer readable medium comprising: code for causing at least one
computer to transmit discovery information including an identifier;
and code for causing said at least one computer to transmit control
information corresponding to said identifier.
16. A wireless communications device comprising: at least one
processor configured to: transmit discovery information including
an identifier; and transmit control information corresponding to
said identifier; and memory coupled to said at least one
processor.
17. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein said
identifier relates to one of: an advertisement, an advertiser or a
store.
18. The wireless communications device of claim 17, wherein said
control information includes information used by a receiving device
to determine an amount bid for display of the advertisement
corresponding to said control information.
19. The wireless communications device of claim 18, wherein said
control information includes information used to vary an amount of
a bid depending on various factors known to the device determining
the ad display bid amount at the time the bid is computed.
20. The wireless communications device of claim 19, wherein said
factors includes at least one of: geographic location of the
device, proximity to a store associated with the advertisement to
which the control information corresponds, information about
participation in a loyalty program associated with the
advertisement.
Description
FIELD
[0001] Various embodiments relate to wireless communications, and
more particularly, to communicating control information, e.g.,
control information related to advertising, via discovery signaling
in a network.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In various wireless systems, devices transmit discovery
signals, e.g., identification and/or other discovery information,
e.g., as part of a discovery process. Various wireless
communications technologies transmit discovery signals sometimes
called "expressions" which can be detected by devices in the
vicinity of the transmitting device thereby making the receiving
device aware of other devices, services, etc. in the area.
Expressions are typically used for two purposes: 1) identifying the
announcing entity (e.g., application or user), and 2) initiate
communications with the announcing entity (e.g., by operating as a
paging signal).
[0003] The transmitted discovery signals are sometimes called
expressions since they communicate or express information. While
received expressions provide useful information for various
operations, they are often intentionally relatively short and often
not sufficient to communicate an entire advertisement. This is
because transmitting large amounts of data regularly as part of a
peer discovery processes would consume a large amount of resources
and potentially delay discovery given the amount of data that would
be transmitted if the expressions were allowed to be of a large
size, e.g., sufficiently large to communicate an advertisement in
the form of an image.
[0004] While transmitted expressions may be used to make devices in
an area aware of devices, services, stores, etc. which are present
or available in an area, conventional peer discovery signals are
relatively limited in their usefulness due to their relatively
short length. In addition, they tend to be relatively static in
nature, e.g., the name of a store or a user identifier normally
does not change on an hourly basis.
[0005] Entities such as stores offering services or goods for sale
find it useful to offer promotions on a short term basis. For
example, it might be desirable for a coffee shop to signal a
special price or promotion on a short term basis as a function of
the number of customers in the coffee shop at a particular point in
time. Consider the case where a particular coffee shop owner might
want to advertise a special coupon value or deal between 2 and 3 pm
while a coffee shop owner corresponding to the same chain that is
busy during 2 and 3 pm might not want to offer a similar coupon
value or deal.
[0006] It would be desirable if methods and/or apparatus could be
developed which would allow an entity to communicate or control a
promotion through the use of relatively short expressions which
could be transmitted as part of a normal discovery process. While
not necessary for all embodiments, it would be desirable if
expressions used for advertising purposes did not have to
communicate the full data needed to generate and display an
advertisement.
SUMMARY
[0007] Various embodiments are directed to the transmission, e.g.,
broadcast, of identification information and corresponding control
information in discovery signals as part of a discovery process.
The discovery process may be, and sometimes is, part of peer to
peer discovery operations performed in a peer to peer wireless
communications network.
[0008] In some embodiments, the identifier identifies, for example,
one of: an advertisement, an advertiser, a store, a user, or a
module. In one embodiment, the identifier identifies an
advertisement, and the corresponding control information
communicates a bid factor used in determining the value of a bid
for an ad display opportunity. In another embodiment, the
identifier identifies a dynamically modifiable advertisement, and
the corresponding control information communicates information that
is used to set and/or modify the dynamically modifiable portion of
the advertisement. In some embodiments, the identifier identifies
an advertisement, and the corresponding control information
communicates both: (i) a bid factor used in determining the value
of a bid for an ad display opportunity and (ii) information that is
used to set and/or modify a dynamically modifiable portion of the
advertisement. In still another embodiment, the identifier
identifiers a user and the control information communicates status
information. In yet another embodiment, the identifier identifies a
module, e.g., a software application, and the control information
communicates a command instructing the module to perform a
particular operation.
[0009] In various embodiments the control portion of a transmitted
discovery signal is relatively short, e.g., a few bits. In some
embodiments the control portion, alone or in combination with a
portion used to communicate an identifier, e.g., an ad identifier,
is relatively short, e.g., less, and sometimes much less, than the
size which would be needed to transmit an image, e.g., the image of
the full ad. In some embodiments the control information
transmitted in a discovery signal is less than 10 bits.
[0010] An exemplary method of operating a wireless communications
device, in accordance with some embodiments, comprises:
transmitting discovery information including an identifier and
transmitting control information corresponding to said identifier.
An exemplary wireless communications device, in accordance with
some embodiments, comprises: at least one processor configured to:
transmit discovery information including an identifier and transmit
control information corresponding to said identifier. The exemplary
wireless communications device further comprises memory coupled to
said at least one processor.
[0011] While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary
above, it should be appreciated that not necessarily all
embodiments include the same features and some of the features
described above are not necessary but can be desirable in some
embodiments. Numerous additional features, embodiments and benefits
of various embodiments are discussed in the detailed description
which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0012] FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary communications system in
accordance with various exemplary embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a
wireless communications device in accordance with various
embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications
device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an assembly of modules which can, and in some
embodiments is, used in the exemplary wireless communications
device illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer wireless
communication system in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer discovery
signal message in accordance with various embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary WiFi beacon signal in
accordance with various embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 8 includes a drawing of an exemplary advertisement
displayed on a wireless communications device and an exemplary
discovery information message in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 9 includes a drawing of an exemplary status display of
group member status information on a wireless communications device
and an exemplary discovery information message in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 10 includes an exemplary discovery information message
which may be communicated by a discovery information signal in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 11 includes an exemplary discovery information message
which may be communicated by a discovery information signal in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary communications system
100, e.g., a peer to peer wireless communications network, in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary communications
system 100 includes a plurality of wireless communications devices
(device 1 102, device 2 104, device 3 106, device 4 108, device 5
110, device 6 112, device 7 114, device 8 116, device 9 118, . . .
, device N 120) supporting a peer to peer signaling protocol. Some
of the wireless communications devices in system 100 are mobile
devices which may move throughout the system 100, while other
devices in system 100 are fixed position stationary devices. In
this example, wireless communications devices (device 1 102, device
4 108, device 7 114) are mobile devices, while wireless
communications devices (device 2 104, device 3 106, device 5 110,
device 6 112, device 8 116, device 9 118, device N 120) are
stationary devices. Some of the wireless communications devices in
system 100 include an interface to a backhaul network which couples
the device to the Internet and/or to other network nodes. In this
example, wireless communications device 8 116 is coupled to a
backhaul network via link 122. In some embodiments, many or most of
the wireless communications devices have access to a backhaul
network. The access to the backhaul network may be via a wired
connection or a non peer to peer wireless connection, e.g., a 3GPPP
connection.
[0024] The wireless communications devices (102, 104, 106, 108,
110, 112, 114, 116, 118, . . . , 120) generate and transmit, e.g.,
broadcast, discovery signals (124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136,
138, 140, . . . , 142), respectively. The discovery signals
transmitted from a wireless communications device may be, and
sometimes are, detected by other wireless communications devices in
its vicinity. The discovery signals convey identification and/or
other discovery information. Some discovery signals communicate an
identifier, e.g., an identifier used for identification of a
device, a user, an advertisement, a service, an application, a
software module, hardware module, or a combination
software/hardware module. In some embodiments, the discovery
signals may, and sometimes do, convey control information related
to advertisements, e.g., control information used to determine a
bid for display of advertisement, control information used to
control the content of a presented advertisement, control
information used to set or alter the value of a discount provided
as part of an advertisement, control information used to set or
alter promotional information presented as part of an
advertisement, control information used to select between a
plurality of alternative promotional displays within an
advertisement, control information used to control content of store
customizable field of a chain store advertisement, control
information used to communicate a wait time. In some embodiments,
the discovery signals may, and sometimes do, convey control
information related to an identified user, e.g., control
information used to indicate status information, e.g., user
availability status and/or application status on the user's device.
In some embodiments, the discovery signals may, and sometimes do,
communicate control information used to control operation of an
identified software module, an identified hardware module, or an
identified combination software/hardware module.
[0025] In some embodiments, information indicating an identifier
and corresponding control information are communicated in the same
discovery signal. In some embodiments, information indicating an
identifier and corresponding control information are communicated
in the same expression conveyed by one or more discovery signals.
In various embodiments, the control information portion of a
discovery signal is relatively short, e.g., a few bits.
[0026] In some embodiments, information indicating an identifier
and corresponding control information are communicated in different
discovery signals. In some embodiments, information indicating an
identifier and corresponding control information are communicated
in the different expressions, and each expression can be conveyed
by one or more discovery signals.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 of an exemplary method of
operating a wireless communications device in accordance with
various exemplary embodiments. Operation of the exemplary method
starts in step 202 where the wireless communications device is
powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from start step 202
to step 204, in which the wireless communications device transmits
discovery information including an identifier. In various
embodiments, the identifier relates, e.g., corresponds, to one of:
an advertisement, an advertiser or a store. In some, but not all
embodiments, there is a one to one correspondence between the
identifier and the advertisement. In some, but not all embodiments,
there is a one to one correspondence between the identifier and the
advertiser. In some, but not all embodiments, there is a one to one
correspondence between the identifier and the store. Operation
proceeds from start step 204 to step 206. In step 206 the wireless
communications device transmits control information corresponding
to said identifier.
[0028] In some embodiments, the control information includes
information used by a receiving device to determine an amount bid
for display of the advertisement corresponding to said control
information. In some embodiments, the control information includes
information used to vary an amount of a bid depending on various
factors known to the device determining the ad display bid amount
at the time the bid is computed. In some such embodiments, the
factors include at least one of: geographic location of the device,
proximity to a store associated with the advertisement to which the
control information corresponds, information about a participant in
a loyalty program associated with the advertisement, e.g., whether
or not the user of the device is a member of a loyalty program of a
store to which an ad relates. In some embodiments, the information
used to vary an amount of a bid depending on various factors known
to the device determining the ad display bid amount at the time the
bid is computed is conveyed in a set of control bits.
[0029] In some embodiments, the control information includes
information used to control the content of a presented
advertisement. In some embodiments, the control information
includes information which alters the value of a discount provided
as part of the advertisement, e.g., alters the value of discount
coupon provided as part of the advertisement.
[0030] In some embodiments, the control information includes
information which alters the promotional information presented as
part of the advertisement. In some such embodiments, the control
information includes information which is used to select between a
plurality of different promotions associated with an advertisement.
In some such embodiments, the control information includes
information which selects one of the plurality of promotions which
should be displayed as part of an advertisement at a given point in
time.
[0031] In some embodiments, the advertisement corresponds to a
store chain, e.g., Starbucks, and the control information includes
control bits which provide information used to control the content
of a store customizable field of a store chain advertisement.
[0032] Operation proceeds from step 206 to step 208. In step 208
the wireless communications device determines if there has been a
change in conditions, e.g., a change in conditions satisfying a
predetermined criteria used for determining when to update the
transmitted control information. If there has not been a change in
conditions, then operation proceeds from step 208 to step 204;
otherwise, operation proceeds from step 208 to step 210. In step
210 the wireless communications device transmits discovery
information including said identifier.
[0033] Operation proceeds from step 210 to step 212. In step 212
the wireless communications device transmits updated control
information in response to a change in conditions. In some
embodiments, step 212 includes step 214, in which the wireless
communications device transmits updated control information in
response to a change in conditions at a business associated with
said control information. For example, in one embodiment, a store
manager is permitted to change, e.g., update, the control
information in response to a change in conditions at a business,
e.g., a store or service provider. Various exemplary changes in
conditions include, e.g., a change in table occupancy at a
restaurant, a change in parking space availability at a parking
lot, change in the number of customers in a store, a change in
current inventory, changes in cash flow in comparison to cash flow
thresholds, changes in wait times such as a wait time for a ride at
an amusement park, changes in wait times to be seated at a
restaurant, changes in wait times to place an order, changes in
wait times to be processed through a checkpoint, changes in wait
times for customer service, changes in wait times at checkout,
changes in wait times at an emergency room, changes in wait times
at a doctor's office, changes in wait times at a motor vehicle
agency, etc.
[0034] In some embodiments, the control information includes
control bits which are used to communicate a customer wait time at
an individual store for which said control bits are transmitted,
and the wait times are displayed as part of an advertisement
corresponding to said identifier.
[0035] In some embodiments, the identifier transmitted in step 204
corresponds to a user, e.g., a wireless terminal user, instead of a
store or business. In some such embodiments, the control
information transmitted in step 206 includes status information
corresponding to the identified user, and the control information
controls a displayed status. In some such embodiments, the status
information includes at least one of: user availability
information, e.g., user status for communication services, and
application status information, e.g., information indicating a set
of active applications on a user's device.
[0036] In some embodiments, the identifier transmitted in step 204
is a module identifier, and the control information transmitted in
step 206 controls an operation performed by a module identified by
said module identifier. In some such embodiments, the module
corresponds to a software application.
[0037] In various embodiments, step 204 and step 206 are performed
jointly, e.g., with the identifier and the corresponding control
information being transmitted in the same discovery signal. In some
such embodiments, steps 210 and 212 are also performed jointly.
[0038] In some embodiments, said discovery information including an
identifier and said control information corresponding to said
identifier are transmitted in a peer discovery message. In some
other embodiments, said discovery information including an
identifier and said control information corresponding to said
identifier are transmitted in a WiFi beacon frame.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications
device 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary
wireless communications device 300 is, e.g., one of the wireless
communications devices of system 100 of FIG. 1. Exemplary wireless
communications device 300 may, and sometimes does, implement a
method in accordance with flowchart 200 of FIG. 2.
[0040] Wireless device 300 includes a processor 302 and memory 304
coupled together via a bus 309 over which the various elements
(302, 304) may interchange data and information. Wireless
communications device 300 further includes an input module 306 and
an output module 308 which may be coupled to processor 302 as
shown. However, in some embodiments, the input module 306 and
output module 308 are located internal to the processor 302. Input
module 306 can receive input signals. Input module 306 can, and in
some embodiments does, include a wireless receiver and/or a wired
or optical input interface for receiving input. Output module 308
may include, and in some embodiments does include, a wireless
transmitter and/or a wired or optical output interface for
transmitting output. In some embodiments, memory 304 includes
routines 311 and data/information 313.
[0041] In some embodiments, processor 302 is configured to:
transmit discovery information including an identifier and transmit
control information corresponding to said identifier. In various
embodiments, said identifier relates, e.g., corresponds, to one of:
an advertisement, and advertiser or a store.
[0042] In some embodiments, the control information includes
information used by a receiving device to determine an amount bid
for display of the advertisement corresponding to said control
information. In various embodiments, said control information
includes information used to vary an amount of a bid depending on
various factors known to the device determining the ad display bid
amount at the time the bid is computed. The factors includes, e.g.,
at least one of: geographic location of the device, proximity to a
store associated with the advertisement to which the control
information corresponds, information about participation in a
loyalty program associated with the advertisement, e.g., user of
device is member of loyalty program of store to which an ad
relates.
[0043] In some embodiments, said control information includes
information used to control the content of a presented
advertisement. In various embodiments, said control information
includes information which alters the value of a discount, e.g.,
the value of a discount coupon, provided as part of the
advertisement.
[0044] In some embodiments, said control information includes
information which alters the promotional information presented as
part of the advertisement. In some embodiments, said control
information includes information which is used to select between a
plurality of different promotions associated with an advertisement.
In some such embodiments, said control information includes
information which is used to select which one of the plurality of
promotions should be displayed as part of an advertisement at a
given point in time.
[0045] In some embodiments, said advertisement corresponds to a
chain store, e.g., Starbucks; and said control information includes
control bits which provide information used to control the content
of a store customizable field of a chain store advertisement.
[0046] In some embodiments, processor 302 is further configured to
transmit updated control information in response to a change in
conditions. In some embodiments, processor 302 is configured to
transmit updated control information in response to a change in
conditions at a business, e.g., a store or service provider,
associated with said control information, e.g., in response to a
change in table occupancy, a change in current inventory, a change
in cash flow threshold, and/or a change in wait times. Exemplary
wait times include, e.g., wait times to get through a checkout,
wait times to get served, emergency room wait times, doctor's
office wait times, motor vehicle service wait times, etc.
[0047] In some embodiments, said control information includes
control bits which are used to communicate a customer wait time at
an individual store from which said control bits are transmitted,
and the processor 302 is configured to display the wait time as
part of an advertisement corresponding to said identifier.
[0048] In some embodiments, the identifier included in the
transmitted discovery information corresponds to a store or
business. In some embodiments, the identifier included in the
transmitted discovery information corresponds to a user, e.g., a WT
user. In some such embodiments, said control information indicates
status information corresponding to the identified user, said
control information controlling a displayed status. In some such
embodiments, said status information includes at least one of: user
availability information, e.g., user status for communication
services, and application status information, e.g., information
indicating a set of active applications on a user's device.
[0049] In some embodiments said identifier included in the
transmitted discovery information is a module identifier, and said
control information controls an operation performed by a module
identified by said module identifier. In some such embodiments,
said module corresponds to a software application.
[0050] In some embodiments, processor 302 is configured to transmit
said discovery information including an identifier and said control
information corresponding to said identifier in a peer discovery
message. In some other embodiments, processor 302 is configured to
transmit said discovery information including an identifier and
said control information corresponding to said identifier in a WiFi
beacon frame.
[0051] FIG. 4 is an assembly of modules 400 which can, and in some
embodiments is, used in the exemplary wireless communications
device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. The modules in the assembly 400
can be implemented in hardware within the processor 302 of FIG. 3,
e.g., as individual circuits. Alternatively, the modules may be
implemented in software and stored in the memory 304 of wireless
communications device 300 shown in FIG. 3. In some such
embodiments, the assembly of modules 400 is included in routines
311 of memory 304 of device 300 of FIG. 3. While shown in the FIG.
3 embodiment as a single processor, e.g., computer, it should be
appreciated that the processor 302 may be implemented as one or
more processors, e.g., computers. When implemented in software the
modules include code, which when executed by the processor,
configure the processor, e.g., computer, 302 to implement the
function corresponding to the module. In some embodiments,
processor 302 is configured to implement each of the modules of the
assembly of modules 400. In embodiments where the assembly of
modules 400 is stored in the memory 304, the memory 304 is a
computer program product comprising a computer readable medium,
e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising code,
e.g., individual code for each module, for causing at least one
computer, e.g., processor 302, to implement the functions to which
the modules correspond.
[0052] Completely hardware based or completely software based
modules may be used. However, it should be appreciated that any
combination of software and hardware (e.g., circuit implemented)
modules may be used to implement the functions. As should be
appreciated, the modules illustrated in FIG. 4 control and/or
configure the wireless communications device 300 or elements
therein such as the processor 302, to perform the functions of the
corresponding steps illustrated and/or described in the method of
flowchart 200 of FIG. 2.
[0053] Assembly of modules 400 includes a module 404 for
transmitting discovery information including an identifier, a
module 406 for transmitting control information corresponding to
said identifier, a module 408 for determining if there is a change
in conditions, a module 409 for controlling operation as a function
of the determination as to whether there is a change in conditions,
a module 410 for transmitting discovery information including said
identifier, and a module 412 for transmitting control information
in response to a change in conditions. In some embodiments, module
412 includes a module 414 for transmitting updated control
information in response to a change in conditions at a business
associated with said control information.
[0054] Assembly of modules 400 further includes a module 416 for
generating a discovery information signal and a control module 422.
Module 418 further includes a module 418 for generating
identification bits to convey an identifier, e.g., an ad
identifier, a user identifier, or a module identifier, and a module
420 for generating control information bits 420. The generated
control information bits from module 420 correspond to the
identifier from module 418. Control module 422 controls the
apparatus, e.g., wireless communications device 300, to perform one
or more additional steps or functions in accordance with various
aspects and/or features.
[0055] Module 416 includes a peer discovery message generation
module 424 and a Wi-Fi beacon frame generation module 426. In some
embodiments, module 416 generates a peer discovery message signal.
In some embodiments, module 416 generates a Wi-Fi beacon frame
signal.
[0056] FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer wireless
communication system 500 in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment. In wireless peer to peer wireless communications system
500, the wireless communications devices (device A 502, device B
504, device C 506, device D 508, device E 510, device F 512, device
G 514, device H 516, device I 518, device J 520, device K 522)
implement a peer to peer signaling protocol including a recurring
peer to peer timing structure including discovery signaling
interval. During the discovery signaling interval, devices
broadcast peer to peer discovery signals and listen for peer to
peer discovery signals from other devices. At least some of the
peer to peer discovery signals communicate an identifier and
control information corresponding to the identifier. The identifier
is, e.g., one of an identifier corresponding to an advertisement,
e.g., an advertisement that can be displayed on a wireless
communications device, an identifier corresponding to a user, an
identifier corresponding to a device, and an identifier
corresponding to a module, e.g., a module corresponding to a
software application resident on a wireless communications
device.
[0057] Wireless communications devices (502, 504, 506, 508, 510,
512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522) transmit, e.g., broadcast, discovery
signals (524, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544),
respectively. Peer to peer discovery signal 524 includes
advertisement identification information 530 identifying a
particular advertisement that may be stored in and displayed on a
wireless communications device and control information 532
indicating a device location bid factor corresponding to the
identified advertisement. Peer to peer discovery signal 526
includes advertisement identification information 546 identifying a
particular advertisement that may be stored in and displayed on a
wireless communications device and control information 548
indicating a proximity bid factor corresponding to the identified
advertisement. Peer to peer discovery signal 528 includes
advertisement identification information 554 identifying a
particular advertisement that may be stored in and displayed on a
wireless communications device and control information 556
communicating loyalty program bid factor information corresponding
to the identified advertisement.
[0058] Peer to peer discovery signal 530 includes advertisement
identification information 558 identifying a particular
advertisement that may be stored in and displayed on a wireless
communications device and control information 560 communicating
advertisement content presentation control information
corresponding to the identified advertisement. Peer to peer
discovery signal 532 includes advertisement identification
information 562 identifying a particular advertisement that may be
stored in and displayed on a wireless communications device and
control information 564 communicating advertisement control
information for a customizable field corresponding to the
identified advertisement. Peer to peer discovery signal 534
includes advertisement identification information 566 identifying a
particular advertisement that may be stored in and displayed on a
wireless communications device and control information 568
communicating wait time information corresponding to the identified
advertisement.
[0059] Peer to peer discovery signal 536 includes module
identification information 570 identifying a particular module,
e.g., a module corresponding to a software application, that may be
included within a wireless communications device and control
information 572 communicating a control operation to be performed
by the identified module, e.g., commanding one of a plurality of
alternative control operations to be performed by the identified
module. Peer to peer discovery signal 538 includes user
identification information 574 identifying the user of wireless
communications device H 516 and control information 576
communicating availability information corresponding to the
identified user. Peer to peer discovery signal 540 includes user
identification information 578 identifying the user of wireless
communications device I 518 and control information 580
communicating application status information corresponding to one
or more applications resident on device 1518.
[0060] Peer to peer discovery signal 542 includes user and/or
device identification information 582 corresponding to device J 520
and/or the user of device J 520. Peer to peer discovery signal 544
includes user and/or device identification information 584
corresponding to device K 522 and/or the user of device K 522.
[0061] Device J 520 includes stored advertisement information for
multiple ads 586, e.g., a set of advertisement corresponding to
each of a plurality of ads which may be displayed on device J to a
user of device J at an ad display opportunity. Device J also
includes stored module information for multiple modules 588, e.g.,
a set of module information corresponding to each of a plurality of
modules where each module in said plurality of modules corresponds
to a different software application. Device K 522 includes stored
advertisement information for multiple ads 590, e.g., a set of
advertisement corresponding to each of a plurality of ads which may
be displayed on device K to a user of device K at an ad display
opportunity. Device K also includes stored module information for
multiple modules 592, e.g., a set of module information
corresponding to each of a plurality of modules where each module
corresponds to a different software application. The ad to be
displayed, at a particular display opportunity, by exemplary
devices (device J 520, device K 522) may be, and sometimes is,
determined as a function of control information received in
discovery signals from other wireless communications devices. The
content of the ad being displayed by exemplary devices (device J
520, device K 522) may be, and sometimes is, determined as a
function of control information received in discovery signals from
other wireless communications devices. Status information displayed
by devices (device J 520, device K 522) may be, and sometimes is,
received in discovery signals from other wireless communications
devices.
[0062] Device J 520 receives peer discovery signals, which were
broadcast from other wireless communications devices, as indicated
by exemplary received discovery signals (594, . . . , 596).
Received discovery signals (594, . . . , 596) are received signals
corresponding to one or more or all of transmitted discovery
signals (524, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 544). Device
K 522 receives peer discovery signals, which were broadcast from
other wireless communications devices, as indicated by exemplary
received discovery signals (598, . . . , 599). Received discovery
signals (598, . . . , 599) are received signals corresponding to
one or more or all of transmitted discovery signals (524, 526, 528,
530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542).
[0063] FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer discovery
signal message 600 in accordance with various embodiments.
Exemplary discovery signal message 600 is, e.g., communicated via a
discovery signal, e.g., a discovery signal generated by wireless
communications device 300 and transmitted, e.g., broadcast, by
wireless communications device 300, and/or generated and
transmitted by a wireless communications device implementing a
method in accordance with flowchart 200 of FIG. 2. Exemplary peer
to peer discovery signal message 600 conveys, e.g., 128 information
bits. Peer to peer discovery signal message 600 includes an
identification bit field 602 and a corresponding control bit field
604. The ID bit field 602, e.g., a 64 bit field, communicates an
identifier, e.g., an ad identifier, a user identifier, or a module
identifier. The corresponding control bit field bit 604, e.g., a 9
bit field, communicates control information, e.g., control
information used to influence a bid for an auction for an ad
display opportunity, control information used to customize an ad,
control information used to select between a plurality of
predetermined alternative variations of an ad, control information
used to vary a small portion of an ad, control information used to
communicate information to be displayed in a portion of an ad,
e.g., a wait time, a price, a coupon, a daily special, a manager
special, a limited time offer, etc., control information used to
communicate user status information to be displayed as part of a
larger status display, e.g., current status of members of a group,
current status of applications on a device, etc., or control
information used to control an identified module to perform one of
a plurality of predetermined operations. In various embodiments,
the control bit field has a relatively small number of bits, e.g.,
substantially less bits than the bits needed to communicate the
image for the full ad that is being displayed.
[0064] FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary WiFi beacon signal 700
in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary WiFi beacon
signal 700 is, e.g., a discovery signal generated by wireless
communications device 300 and transmitted, e.g., broadcast, by
wireless communications device 300 and/or generated and transmitted
by a wireless communications device implementing a method in
accordance with flowchart 200 of FIG. 2. WiFi beacon signal 700
includes an SSID field 702. The SSID field 702 includes an
identifier portion 704 and a corresponding control portion 706.
Identifier portion 704 communicates the same type of information as
ID bit field 602; control portion 706 communicates the same type of
information as control bit field 604.
[0065] FIG. 8 includes a drawing of an exemplary advertisement 800
displayed on a wireless communications device and an exemplary
discovery information message 850 in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment. The exemplary advertisement 800 displayed on a wireless
communications device includes a static ad portion 804 and a
dynamically modifiable ad portion which can be, and sometimes is,
varied, as a function of control information bits received in a
discovery signal, e.g., a peer discovery broadcast signal.
Exemplary discovery information message 850, which is carried by a
discovery information signal, includes ad identification bits 852,
which communicate an ad identifier corresponding to a particular
ad, and control information bits 854, which convey control
information used to control the display of the dynamically
modifiable ad portion in the ad identified by the ad identifier
communicated by bits 852. In some embodiments, control information
bits 854 selects one of a plurality of predetermined alternative
displays to be placed in the dynamically modifiable ad portion. In
some embodiments, the control information bits communicate a wait
time, e.g., a restaurant wait time to be seated. In some
embodiments, the control information bits communicate a coupon or
portion of a coupon. In some embodiments, the control information
bits communicate a special offer from an individual store in a
chain of stores, e.g., a store manager special offer. In some
embodiments, the control information bits communicate a price,
e.g., different stores in a franchise may have slightly different
pricing in an ad, e.g., as a function of location. In some
embodiments, the control information bits communicate or identify
information mandated to be placed in an ad by a governmental agency
or law, e.g., different states or cities may have different
requirements.
[0066] In some embodiments, the dynamically modifiable portion of
the ad includes non-contiguous portions. In some embodiments, the
dynamically modifiable portion of the ad includes the display of a
person, e.g., an ad spokesperson may be selected from among a
plurality of predetermined alternatives. In some embodiments, the
selection of the ad spokesperson is determined to target a
particular customer group or category, e.g., a particular age
group, e.g., as a function of measured or estimated traffic
statistics, e.g., at different times of a day different age groups
may be in a mall. In some embodiments, the dynamically modifiable
portion of the ad includes the display of a product, e.g., a
product may be selected from among a plurality of predetermined
alternatives, e.g., a hamburger, a chicken sandwich, or a fish
sandwich may be selected to be displayed, e.g., to attempt to
increase sales to balance current inventory, to increase profits,
and/or in response to detected competitor activity.
[0067] FIG. 9 includes a drawing of an exemplary status display of
group member status information 900 on a wireless communications
device and an exemplary discovery information message 950 in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Status display 900
includes a list of group members (name 1, name 2, name 3, . . . ,
name M) which belong to the same group as the user of the wireless
communications device on which display 900 appears. Status display
900 includes a column identifying whether a group member user's
presence has been detected, a column indicating user availability
status corresponding to each detected member, and columns
indicating status corresponding to each of a plurality of
applications (application 1 status, . . . , application N
status).
[0068] Exemplary discovery information message 950, which is
carried by a discovery information signal, includes user
identification bits 952, which communicate a user identifier, e.g.,
which may and sometimes do correspond to a group member name.
Discovery information message 950 also includes a plurality of
control information bits corresponding to the user ID bits 952. The
control information bits include a user availability status bit
954, and a plurality of application status bits (application 1
status bit 956, . . . , application N status bit 958). In this
example, consider that the wireless communications device
displaying status display 900 to its user, has detected and
recovered discovery information signals from devices with user IDs
corresponding to name 1, name 2, and name M. Therefore in the
column indicating detected presence, information field 902 is set
to YES for name 1, information field 904 is set to YES for name 2,
information field 906 is set to NO for name 3, and information
field 908 is set to YES for name M. Each discovery information
message, communicated in a discovery signal, communicated user
availability status information and application status information.
In this example, the discovery message transmitted from the user
corresponding to name 1 indicated that the user is currently
available, that application 1 is active and application N is
inactive; the communicated information is recovered and displayed
as indicated by fields (910, 916, 920), respectively. In this
example, the discovery message transmitted from the user
corresponding to name 2 indicated that the user is currently
unavailable; the communicated information is recovered and
displayed as indicated by field 912. In this example, the discovery
message transmitted from the user corresponding to name M indicated
that the user is currently available, that application 1 is
inactive and application N is active; the communicated information
is recovered and displayed as indicated by fields (914, 918, 922),
respectively.
[0069] FIG. 10 includes an exemplary discovery information message
1000 which may be communicated by a discovery information signal in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary discovery
information message 1000 includes a module identification bit field
1002, e.g., for identifying one of a plurality of alternative
modules, e.g., software applications, which may be selected and
controlled. Exemplary discovery information message 1000 also
includes a control information bit field 1004 for communicating
control information for controlling operations of the module
identified by the information communicated in the module ID bits
1002. In one example, the bit pattern=0001 in module ID bit field
1002 identifies that a video conference application module has been
selected 1006. The control information bits 1004 include a camera
on/off control bit 1008 and a microphone on/off control bit
1010.
[0070] FIG. 11 includes an exemplary discovery information message
1100 which may be communicated by a discovery information signal in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary discovery
information message 1100 includes an ad identification bit field
1102, e.g., for identifying one of a plurality of alternative ads
which may be stored on a wireless communications device. In some
embodiments, within the wireless communications device there are
auctions for ad display opportunities. Exemplary discovery
information message 1100 also includes a control information bit
field 1104 for communicating control information related to bidding
for an ad display opportunity. The control information bit field
1104 includes: bits 1106 for communicating a bid weighting factor
used in determining the bid as a function of the geographic
location of the device which is to display the ad, bits 1108 for
communicating a bid weighting factor used in determining the bid as
a function of the proximity of the device which is to display the
ad to the device which transmitted the discovery information
message, bits 1112 for communicating a bid weighting factor used in
determining the bid as a function of participation in a loyalty
program, and bits 1114 for communicating a bid weighting factor
used for determining a bid as a function on the time of day.
[0071] Various features and/or aspects of some, but not necessarily
all, embodiments, are further described below. In some embodiments,
an ad identifier and control information corresponding to the
identified ad is communicated via wireless signaling, e.g., via one
or more broadcast discovery signals. In some embodiments, the ad
identifier and control information are communicated in the same
broadcast discovery signal. In some embodiments, the ad identifier
and corresponding control information are communicated in different
broadcast discovery signals; however, there is a known or
determinable linkage between the ad identification information and
corresponding ad control information.
[0072] In various embodiments some wireless communications devices
control ads displayed on other wireless communications devices.
Some exemplary wireless communications devices which control the
display of ads on other devices are sometimes referred to as
"AdPoint" devices. One exemplary such device is a fixed location
AdPoint device corresponding to a store. Exemplary wireless
communications device 300 of FIG. 3 which supports a peer to peer
signaling protocol is, e.g., an AdPoint device. An exemplary
wireless communications device, which displays ads which are
controlled by other devices is, e.g., a mobile wireless
communications device which receives broadcast discovery signals
from an AdPoint device. Exemplary mobile wireless communications
device J 520 of FIG. 5 which supports a peer to peer signaling
protocol is such a device.
[0073] In some embodiments a broadcast signal conveying an ad
identifier and corresponding ad control information is a peer
discovery signal in an exemplary peer to peer signaling protocol
including a recurring peer to peer timing structure including peer
discovery intervals. In some embodiments the broadcast signal
conveying the ad identifier and corresponding ad control
information is a WiFi beacon signal which communicate discovery
information. In some embodiments, a signal communicating the ad
identification information and ad control information is
transmitted on a periodic or predictable basis.
[0074] A device, e.g., an AdPoint, transmitting the ad
identification information and control information may, and
sometimes does, change the control information over time, e.g., in
response to a change in conditions. The ad information identifying
an advertisement to be displayed, in some embodiments, identifies a
dynamically modifiable advertisement to be displayed, and the
control information corresponding to the identified advertisement
to be displayed controls the display, e.g., allowing the ad display
to be modified in response to changes in the transmitted control
information.
[0075] In some embodiments, a broadcast discovery signal includes a
predetermined number of "control bits" used for control related to
an identified ad. The number of control bits used depends on the
particular implementation. The number of control bits used is
different for different implementations, e.g., based on tradeoffs
considerations between expressive power and efficient use of
broadcast channel resources. In some embodiments the number of
control bits is considerable less than the number of bits that
would be used to communicate the content of the advertisement. In
some such embodiments, the number of ad control bits in a discovery
signal is less than 10 bits.
[0076] Some exemplary uses of ad control bits include controlling
bidding for an ad display opportunity in a wireless communications
device and controlling the content of a displayed dynamically
modifiable ad in a wireless communications device.
[0077] In one example, a store indicates using ad control bits
communicated in a discovery signal that it is close to being empty.
The store may have an executable program, called a "bid script"
containing bidding logic defined by the store stored on the
receiving device. The store's bid script on devices that receive
this information increases the bid placed for the store's ad in an
auction for an ad display opportunity, in response to the received
ad control bits indicating an almost empty store. This increases
the chance that the store's ad wins ad display opportunity auctions
on mobile wireless communications devices. This in turn increases
the likelihood that the store will succeed in attracting more
customers to the store.
[0078] In another example, the ad control bits are used to
determine the content of an identified ad that is presented at a
presentation opportunity. For example, a restaurant may indicate
the lunch discount amount of the day in its control bits. The
restaurant's ad generation executable program on devices can
generate a dynamic image that shows the discount amount and embed
the image in the restaurant's ad. Control bits thus allow ads to be
dynamic and respond to changing external situations.
[0079] In various embodiments, a discovery signal communicates an
expression. In some such embodiments the expression includes an
identification portion and a control portion. The identifier
portion includes, e.g., an expression code+discriminator. This
identifier portion identifies an ad, e.g., an ad corresponding to a
store such as Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. The control portion
includes control information corresponding to the identified ad
identifier by the identifier portion. In some embodiments, the
control portion facilitates dynamic modification of the identified
ad.
[0080] An exemplary expression structure, in some embodiments,
includes: a unique or group identification (static)+Optional unique
discriminator (semi-static)+Optional control data (dynamic). In
some embodiments, when control data is part of a public expression
it is public and can be decoded by each of the receiving devices.
In some embodiments public expressions are also known as direct
expression (DEXP). In some embodiments, when control data is part
of a private expression it can be decoded only by devices that are
authorized to receive and decode the private expression, e.g., by
devices that have a secret key known to the transmitter of the
expression and the devices that are authorized to receive and
decode the expression. In some embodiments, private expressions are
also known as hashed expressions (HEXP). Typically, receiving
devices know the static (identification) part they wish to monitor.
The discriminator and control data are not known in advance and are
discovered during the monitoring process. In some embodiments,
control data can be of at least two types: [0081] 1. Descriptive
data, which are metadata associated with the entity announcing the
expression. An example is an expression whose identification
portion includes a user's expression-code and control part includes
the user's status on an instant messaging application. [0082] 2.
Prescriptive data, which are instructions meant for entities that
receive the expression. An example is control bits announced by an
"AdPoint" corresponding to an identified ad that controls how bids
for the identified ad are placed on devices that receive the
expression.
[0083] In some embodiments, the control bits are included in the
same broadcast discovery signal with corresponding identification
information used to identify an ad, user, module, etc. In some
other embodiments, the identifier information and corresponding
control information are communicated in different broadcast
discovery signals. In some exemplary embodiments the broadcast
discovery signal communicating the identifier, e.g. ad identifier,
and corresponding control information, e.g., ad control
information, is a peer discovery signal communicated during a peer
discovery interval in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. In
some WiFi embodiments, the broadcast discovery signal is a WiFi
beacon signal in which the SSID field in the beacon has been split
to include an identifier portion and a control portion.
[0084] In various embodiments a device, e.g., a wireless
communications in system 100 of FIG. 1, wireless communication
device 300 of FIG. 3, and/or a wireless communications device in
system 500 of FIG. 5, includes a module corresponding to each of
the individual steps and/or operations described with regard to any
of the Figures in the present application and/or described in the
detailed description of the present application. The modules may,
and sometimes are implemented in hardware. In other embodiments,
the modules may, and sometimes are, implemented as software modules
including processor executable instructions which when executed by
the processor of the communications device cause the device to
implement the corresponding step or operation. In still other
embodiments, some or all of the modules are implemented as a
combination of hardware and software.
[0085] The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented
using software, hardware and/or a combination of software and
hardware. Various embodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g.,
network nodes, mobile nodes such as mobile terminals, access points
such as base stations, and/or communications systems. Various
embodiments are also directed to methods, e.g., method of
controlling and/or operating network nodes, mobile nodes, access
points such as base stations and/or communications systems, e.g.,
hosts. Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g.,
computer, readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc.,
which include machine readable instructions for controlling a
machine to implement one or more steps of a method. The computer
readable medium is, e.g., non-transitory computer readable
medium.
[0086] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of
steps in the processes disclosed is an example of exemplary
approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that
the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be
rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present
disclosure. The accompanying method claims present elements of the
various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to
the specific order or hierarchy presented.
[0087] In various embodiments nodes described herein are
implemented using one or more modules to perform the steps
corresponding to one or more methods, for example, signal
processing, signal generation and/or transmission steps. Thus, in
some embodiments various features are implemented using modules.
Such modules may be implemented using software, hardware or a
combination of software and hardware. Many of the above described
methods or method steps can be implemented using machine executable
instructions, such as software, included in a machine readable
medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to
control a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or without
additional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above
described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among
other things, various embodiments are directed to a
machine-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer readable
medium, including machine executable instructions for causing a
machine, e.g., processor and associated hardware, to perform one or
more of the steps of the above-described method(s). Some
embodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications node,
including a processor configured to implement one, multiple or all
of the steps of one or more methods of the invention.
[0088] In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g.,
CPUs, of one or more devices, e.g., communications nodes such as
network nodes, access nodes and/or wireless terminals, are
configured to perform the steps of the methods described as being
performed by the communications nodes. The configuration of the
processor may be achieved by using one or more modules, e.g.,
software modules, to control processor configuration and/or by
including hardware in the processor, e.g., hardware modules, to
perform the recited steps and/or control processor configuration.
Accordingly, some but not all embodiments are directed to a device,
e.g., communications node, with a processor which includes a module
corresponding to each of the steps of the various described methods
performed by the device in which the processor is included. In some
but not all embodiments a device, e.g., communications node,
includes a module corresponding to each of the steps of the various
described methods performed by the device in which the processor is
included. The modules may be implemented using software and/or
hardware.
[0089] Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product
comprising a computer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory
computer-readable medium, comprising code for causing a computer,
or multiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts
and/or operations, e.g. one or more steps described above.
Depending on the embodiment, the computer program product can, and
sometimes does, include different code for each step to be
performed. Thus, the computer program product may, and sometimes
does, include code for each individual step of a method, e.g., a
method of controlling a communications device or node. The code may
be in the form of machine, e.g., computer, executable instructions
stored on a computer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory
computer-readable medium, such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM
(Read Only Memory) or other type of storage device. In addition to
being directed to a computer program product, some embodiments are
directed to a processor configured to implement one or more of the
various functions, steps, acts and/or operations of one or more
methods described above. Accordingly, some embodiments are directed
to a processor, e.g., CPU, configured to implement some or all of
the steps of the methods described herein. The processor may be for
use in, e.g., a communications device or other device described in
the present application.
[0090] Various embodiments are well suited to communications
systems using a peer to peer signaling protocol. Some embodiments
use an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based
wireless peer to peer signaling protocol, e.g., WiFi signaling
protocol or another OFDM based protocol.
[0091] While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least
some of the methods and apparatus of various embodiments are
applicable to a wide range of communications systems including many
non-OFDM and/or non-cellular systems.
[0092] Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus
of the various embodiments described above will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in view of the above description. Such
variations are to be considered within the scope. The methods and
apparatus may be, and in various embodiments are, used with Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA), OFDM, and/or various other types
of communications techniques which may be used to provide wireless
communications links between communications devices. In some
embodiments one or more communications devices are implemented as
access points which establish communications links with mobile
nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA and/or may provide connectivity to the
internet or another network via a wired or wireless communications
link. In various embodiments the mobile nodes are implemented as
notebook computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), or other
portable devices including receiver/transmitter circuits and logic
and/or routines, for implementing the methods.
* * * * *